Method and apparatus for tissue grafting and copying

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for obtaining a plurality of portions of tissue from a biological tissue, comprising:
 a plurality of tubes coupled to a base, each tube of the plurality comprising at least two points provided at a distal end thereof; 
 a plurality of pins each provided at least partially within a central lumen of each of the plurality of tubes; 
 a vibrator coupled to the base configured to cause the plurality of tubes to vibrate and facilitate the insertion of the tubes into the biological tissue; 
 a first actuator configured to control a pin position of at least one of the plurality of pins; and 
 a second actuator configured to control, independent of the pin position, a tube position of at least one of the plurality of tubes, 
 wherein at least one section of the tubes is structured to be inserted into the biological tissue at a donor site to simultaneously remove the portions of tissue therefrom when the at least one section of the tubes is withdrawn from the donor site, and 
 wherein the pins are configured to facilitate a removal of the portions of tissue from the tubes. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the tubes is less than about 1 mm. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the tubes is less than about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of tubes comprises at least three points provided at the distal end thereof. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one arrangement configured to control a position of at least one of the plurality of pins within at least one of the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of pins is controllably translatable in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubes comprises at least six tubes. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the tubes are provided in at least one of a rectangular array or a linear configuration with respect to one another. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a presence of the portion of tissue within at least one of the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an angle between a lateral side of the points and a longitudinal axis of at least one of the plurality of tubes is less than about 15 degrees. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrator has an amplitude of vibration of between 50 μm and 500 μm, and a frequency of vibrations between 10 Hz and 10 kHz. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the vibrator includes circuitry configured to adjust the amplitude and frequency of the vibrations. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a biocompatible matrix configured to be placed on a donor site associated with the biological tissue and configured to receive at least one portion of the portions of tissue from the biological tissue. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the biocompatible matrix comprises at least one of polyactic acid, collagen, low-melting agarose, hyaluronic acid, hyaluranon, or devitalized skin tissue. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the biocompatible matrix further comprises a nutrient, a growth factor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a surface of the pins comprises a low-friction material. 
     
     
       17. A method for obtaining a plurality of portions of tissue from a biological tissue, using the system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 positioning the distal end of the plurality of tubes proximal to the donor site; 
 positioning the plurality of pins within the central lumen of each of the plurality of tubes, such that a distal end of the plurality of pins is proximal to the distal end of the plurality of tubes; 
 advancing the plurality of tubes into the donor site to sever the portions of the biological tissue from the donor site; 
 actuating the vibrator to cause the plurality of tubes to vibrate to facilitate the insertion of the tubes into the biological tissue; and 
 raising the plurality of tubes from the donor site, such that the portions of the biological tissue are removed from the donor site. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing a matrix material over the donor site. 
     
     
       19. A method for harvesting and implanting a plurality of portions of tissue, using the system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 positioning the distal end of the plurality of tubes proximal to an upper surface of the biological tissue; 
 positioning the plurality of pins within the central lumen of the plurality of tubes such that the distal end of the plurality of pins is provided at a predetermined distance behind the distal end of the plurality of tubes; 
 advancing the plurality of tubes into the biological tissue to sever the portions of the biological tissue from a surrounding tissue, such that the distal end of the plurality of pins is positioned proximal to the upper surface of the biological tissue; 
 actuating the vibrator to cause the plurality of tubes to vibrate; 
 raising the plurality of tubes and the plurality of pins simultaneously until the plurality of tubes are removed from the biological tissue, wherein the portions of the biological tissue remain within the plurality of tubes; 
 inserting a plurality of hollow needles into a recipient material to a particular depth; 
 providing the plurality of tubes containing the portions of the biological tissue in a corresponding lumen of each hollow needle, such that the distal end of the plurality of tubes is proximal to a distal end of the plurality of hollow needles; 
 retracting the plurality of hollow needles from the recipient material while maintaining a location of the plurality of tubes within the recipient material; and 
 withdrawing the plurality of tubes from the recipient material while maintaining a location of the plurality of pins substantially stationary relative to the recipient material, such that the portions of the biological tissue remain within the recipient material. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the recipient material comprises at least one of a biologically compatible matrix or a further biological tissue.